Von Miller and Witney Carson will be on “Dancing with the Stars,” which airs March 21, 2016 on the ABC Television Network. (Craig Sjodin, ABC)

Despite his illustrious sack dances, Broncos linebacker Von Miller is far from the favorite to win the 22nd season of “Dancing with the Stars,” according to online sportsbook bookmaker.eu.

Miller is the eighth favorite at +825 odds, meaning a $100 bet would net $825. Among athletes, Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown has the best odds at +600 (third favorite), followed by MMA fighter Paige VanZant +800 (seventh). Former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie is 10th at +1,400.

“Fuller House” star Jodie Sweetin, who once hosted “Pants-Off Dance-Off,” is the favorite to win at +450. Television personality Geraldo Rivera brings up the rear at +3,000.

Miller’s partner Witney Carson could be key for Miller, the Super Bowl 50 MVP, to succeed. Three of her four previous partners finished in the top five and one, “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” star Alfonso Ribeiro, won the competition.

NFL players have done fairly well in the history of the show. Emmitt Smith (Season 3), Hines Ward (12) and Donald Driver (14) have won their respective seasons. Jerry Rice (2), Jason Taylor (6) and Warren Sapp (7) finished runner-up. And seven pro athletes have taken home the top prize, but none since season 14 (Driver).

Colin Kaepernick received a ringing endorsement from former 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh. Kaepernick has requested a trade through his agent. (Dilip Vishwanat, Getty)

Colin Kaepernick sits at the epicenter of trade rumors. The Broncos, Cleveland Browns and New York Jets are interested in acquiring him. Kaepernick remains available because he has requested a trade through his agents after he was benched last season. He went 17-6 as a starter from 2011-2013 and led the 49ers to a Super Bowl in the 2012 before losing his job to Blaine Gabbert in 2015.

Kaepernick played his best football under Jim Harbaugh, who left after the 2014 season. Harbaugh, entering his second season as Michigan’s coach, provided a glowing recommendation of Kaepernick for teams interested in the former Nevada star.

Fresh off his new six-year, $90-million deal and one-way ticket to Jackonsville, former Broncos’ defensive end Malik Jackson implied that Denver could have kept him, quarterback Brock Osweiler and linebacker Danny Trevathan had they acted sooner.

Jackson’s comments were aired on the NFL Network as part of an interview with NFL’s Jeff Darlington. Darlington asked Jackson to give his thoughts on the situation in Denver as the Broncos have lost some major free agents including Osweiler and Trevathan.

The Brock Osweiler era may have ended in the third quarter of the Broncos’ final regular-season game, against San Diego. But the curtain officially closed Wednesday, when Osweiler signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Houston Texans.

Broncos general manager John Elway said the team made a competitive (4-year, $64 million with $30 million guaranteed) offer to quarterback Brock Osweiler, but it wasn’t enough to retain his services.

The contract details are in on what Osweiler, 25, got with the Houston Texans that led him to leave Denver:

4-year, $72 million dollar deal with $37 million guaranteed.

2016: Osweiler will make $21 million. He will get a $4 million guaranteed base salary along with a $12 million signing bonus and $5 million roster bonus due later this month.

2017: Osweiler’s base salary rises to a fully guaranteed $16 million.

2018: $18 million non-guaranteed base salary.

2019: $4 million roster bonus due if Osweiler is on the team in March along with a $13 million base salary. $17 million total, all non-guaranteed money.

The contract is rather interesting because it sets up to be virtually a two-year deal worth $37 million. All of the guaranteed money is in 2016 and 2017 with essentially two non-guaranteed club options in 2018 or 2019.

The $12 million signing bonus is pro-rated for cap purposes throughout the length of the deal adding three million to each base salary and roster bonus, if due.

Osweiler has a very manageable $12 million cap hit in 2016, but that number rises to $19 million, $21 million and $20 million in subsequent years.

Houston can also get out of the deal rather easily after 2017, if they want. The contract pays Osweiler about the average fee of an NFL starting quarterback. Osweiler’s $18 million a year average ties him with Dallas’ Tony Romo for the 14th highest paid quarterback salary.

Osweiler would be 29 at the completion of the contract likely setting up one last big payday in 2020.

“I’m franchise, so I’m going to be with the Broncos no matter what,” Miller said. “Even if it wasn’t a franchise pay, I was going to be with the Broncos. All of my buddies, all of my friends — they all signed multi-year deals with the Denver Broncos and I’ve been with those guys for five years now. I can’t see myself playing a season without Demaryius Thomas, playing a season without Derek Wolfe, T.J. (Ward) and (Aqib) Talib and all those guys. I’ve been with them for so long, I plan on playing with them for the rest of my career.”Read more…

In a surprising turn, Brock Osweiler agreed to a four-year deal with the Texans, leaving the Broncos with only one quarterback on the roster in Trevor Siemian and likely shifting their focus to San Francisco’s Colin Kaepernick.

Here’s how some of Osweiler’s now former teammates, as well as other players affiliated with the league, reacted to the deal:

Defensive tackle Terrance Knighton played two seasons in Denver before signing with the Redskins last offseason. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

For the second time in as many years, Terrance “Pot Roast” Knighton is a free agent and in search of his next home. And after a season away away from Denver, the defensive tackle said he’d welcome a Mile High reunion.

The Broncos have a large hole to fill on the defensive line after Malik Jackson agreed to a six-year, $90 million contract with the Jaguars. But Denver needs a defensive end, not a tackle, and a new deal with Knighton may be unlikely.

Knighton played two seasons in Denver, starting all 32 games and recording five sacks and 61 total tackles in Jack Del Rio’s 4-3. Despite hoping to return when his contract expired last March, a deal never came to fruition and Knighton signed a one-year deal with the Redskins.

“Last year obviously my heart was in Denver,” he said. “I wanted to stay there. I got a little emotional about it and you try not to take things personal It’s a business at the end of the day, but you get attached to teams, the town that you’re in, the city that you’re in, the fans. My family is tired of buying new jerseys. It’s to the point now where I’m just letting my agent handle everything. I want to win, so hopefully a team that is doing things right and giving me a little security on my end. I’m more than willing to help.”

Although a return to Denver may not be in the cards given the Broncos’ needs, Knighton said he would be open to the opportunity.

“They’re winners. Right now it’s high demand to have a lot of D-linemen and that’s how you win in this league, in the trenches,” he said. “I’d be more than welcome to reunite with John Elway and the Denver Broncos.”Read more…

The Broncos headed into the free agency’s legal tampering period with several free agents to retain and even more holes to fill on the team. The only problem — they didn’t have much money to do it.

When the legal tampered period opened, the Broncos had just $8.7 million in cap space to spend, according to Spotrac. Even after Peyton Manning’s retirement freed up $19 million in the 2016 salary cap, the Broncos had the second lowest cap figure in the NFL.

Tuesday, the Broncos cut three veterans and nearly doubled that cap figure. The release of guard Louis Vasquez cleared $5.5 million off the Broncos’ 2016 salary cap. Letting go of tight end Owen Daniels saved the Broncos $2.5 million and long snapper Aaron Brewer’s departure opened up $430,000 to spend in 2016. The moves also added nearly $4 million in “dead money” to Denver’s cap.

With Manning, Vasquez, Daniels and Brewer all off the Broncos’ books, it opened up $27.43 million in cap space.

Yet the Broncos have just shy of $17 million in cap space as of Tuesday afternoon, according to Spotrac. A common misconception is that Manning’s $19 million released the Broncos from cap issues. That would be incorrect. Denver was several million over the cap prior to Manning’s retirement. Plus, Denver lost a little over $4 million in cap space by placing tenders on restricted free agents linebacker Brandon Marshall and running back C.J. Anderson.

The Broncos have the NFL’s lowest adjusted salary cap figure of $154,095,041 due to a small amount of carry over from the 2015 salary cap and a NFL-high in deductions from their 2016 salary cap due to achieved contract incentives and other 2015 salary cap adjustments.

Several Broncos revealed throughout the season that their locker room was the closest they’ve ever been on. The defensive side of the ball was an especially tight group.

Defensive end Malik Jackson left the coup Tuesday agreeing in principle for a six-year, $90 million dollar deal with the Jaguars. His teammates knew they were losing a player, but we’re even happier that a friend got paid.

“I talked to Malik, but our relationship is bigger than just us being teammates,” Jackson said Monday. “He’s like a brother to me. I want him to be in the best possible situation for him. You work so hard your whole life to put yourself in this position. I really feel like he should take advantage of the opportunity. I feel like he deserves everything he works with. Whatever happens, I’m going to be good with it. He set his self up to be in a great position to be here or wherever else it may be. He’s going to be great. I hope the best for him.”

Denver Broncos outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware (94), defensive end Malik Jackson (97) and inside linebacker Brandon Marshall (54) waiting on the line in the second half against the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver on Jan. 24, 2016. (Joe Amon, The Denver Post)

Miller isn’t the only pro athlete in the competition. Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie and UFC fighter Paige VanZant are also in the field of 12 celebrities.

DeAngeloWilliams (34) of the Pittsburgh Steelers trucks Danny Trevathan (59) of the Denver Broncos during the first half of play at Heinz Field. The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the Denver Broncos on Sunday, December 20, 2015. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

There’s always one Debbie Downer at a good party.

So why should Peyton Manning’s retirement press conference be any different? Hours before Manning met with media to discuss his retirement and 18 years in professional football, Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams took some not-so-veiled shots on Twitter at Manning’s performance from last season.

Look Peyton is a hall of fame qb who couldn’t play dead in a western last year but career over all is astonishing but last year was

Williams isn’t simply throwing shade Manning’s way. The tweet came as part of a longer conversation he was having with Twitter users about Manning. Williams’ initial tweet on Manning questioned a statement by CBS’ Pete Prisco that Manning showed he could still play after Prisco watched the Broncos game against the Green Bay Packers. Manning threw for 340 yards but didn’t throw any touchdowns.

Peyton Manning penned a message for Christopher Cox, a young fan at Children’s Hospital Colorado. (Photo courtesy of Dana Alexander)

Five days before the Broncos hosted the Steelers in a divisional playoff game in January, Vernon Davis and three of his Bronco teammates made a trip to Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora to visit a longtime fan.

Christopher Cox, a senior at Middle Park High School in Granby, had been suffering from idiopathic acute aplastic anemia. His bone marrow had stopped producing new blood cells, sapping him of oxygen and energy. His condition had been complicated by another immune disease that required chemotherapy to reduce inflammation and prevent addition problems.

The Broncos — Davis, Robert Myers, Shiloh Keo and Cameron Jefferson — popped in just to say hello. To give him a brief distraction from the pain and long days. Cox’s story stuck with Myers, who returned a second time, shortly before the Broncos took the field that Sunday.

“I just wanted to hang out with him,” Myers said. “It actually kind of touched me a little bit. Just really wanted to brighten his day.”

Five months earlier, Cox had been a healthy teenager, eager to begin applying to colleges and focus on his future.

But in January, a future for Cox wasn’t guaranteed. His bone marrow donor pulled had out at the last minute, leaving him with few options and little time.

On Friday, Peyton Manning learned of Cox’s story while in Las Vegas, where he was a keynote speaker for the HIMSS conference.

Dana Alexander, the chair of the HIMSS board of directors and the moderator for the panel discussion at the conference, told Manning about the young fan during their prep meeting. She told Manning about his teammates’ visits to Cox in the hospital, and how they provided a source of inspiration for him in his recovery.Read more…

Shortly after Peyton Manning informed the Broncos he planned to retire, a video documenting his life and career was published, with his younger brother Eli narrating. Get a box of Kleenex and check it out.

Brandon Marshall led the Broncos in tackles in 2014 and finished second in 2015. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

The Broncos will use a second-round tender on restricted free agent Brandon Marshall that is worth $2.553 million for 2016.

Marshall, who is expected to generate interest from Miami and Seattle, can sign an offer sheet with another team when free agency begins, but the Broncos have the right to match. Should they choose not to, they will receive a second-round draft pick as compensation.

Peyton Manning trots into the end zone for his 18th career rushing touchdown. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

DeMarcus Ware may never forget The Peyton Manning Naked Bootleg, even if he tried.

You know the play. Against the Cowboys in Dallas in 2013. The 37-year-old Manning faked a handoff to Knowshon Moreno then curled around to the left as the scrum collapsed on Moreno. Without a defender in sight, Manning trotted into the end zone leaving millions watching in disbelief.

Ware included. He was still with the Cowboys at the time and remembers it vividly. While reflecting on his two years with Manning in Denver and congratulating the quarterback on his Hall of Fame career, Ware looked back to that 2013 play.

“You always hear about Peyton Manning and how he controls the game, uplifts other players to his standards, and I was fortunate to see it as a teammate and opponent,” Ware said. “He was one of those guys who was a great competitor who took chances. When I played against him in Dallas (2013 game), I had the bootleg responsibility and I never thought he would do it. The weird thing is, he looked at me before with this image of, ‘I got you.’

“Being his teammate, I saw how he carried himself, how meticulous he was, how much of a competitor and how great he was off the field. He was one of those guys that if you had an event, a dinner, he was always engaged in every guy’s life. He knew what the trash man’s name was, the trainers, the cafeteria workers—all by name. He always thought about everyone else. When you think of the word ‘champion,’ he’s the image that you see.”

For the last four years, Peyton Manning has been a regular on the cover of The Denver Post, leading the Broncos to a pair of Super Bowl appearances, winning one and setting a long list of NFL records. Here are just some of those memorable covers. Order these covers and more at The Denver Post’s store.

March 21, 2012: Welcome to Denver

Manning is introduced by general manager John Elway and owner Pat Bowlen as the new face of the Broncos.

Records were shattered and rings were won as Manning turned the Broncos’ offense into one of the most prolific in history in 2013 and led them to a pair of Super Bowls, in 2013 and 2015.

Forgotten in the reflections of his four years in Denver are the bookends, the first and last moments of Manning’s career as a Bronco. These are sure to come up as trivia questions some way, some how, so here goes it:

THE FIRSTS

In his Bronco debut, Peyton Manning hands off the ball to Willis McGahee in a victory over the Steelers. (Justin Edmonds, Getty Images)

Play: Handoff to Willis McGahee for a 5-yard rush in the first down of a 31-19 victory over the Steelers on Sept. 9, 2012, Manning’s Bronco debut.

Completion: A 13-yard pass to Eric Decker on a second-and-5 with 14:23 remaining in the first quarter of that game against Pittsburgh.

Touchdown pass: Seventy-one yards to Demaryius Thomas, in the third quarter of that win over the Steelers.

Rushing touchdown (the first and only): A 1-yard run in the second quarter of a 51-48 win over the Cowboys in Dallas on Oct. 6, 2013.

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.